Elwyn “Rip” Rowan, who has deep roots in the state of Georgia and also has Power 5 coaching experience, serves as the defensive line coach for the Georgia Southern Eagles.
His 2023 group was one that put pressure on the opposing offense all season, finishing in the top 20 nationally in tackles for loss. Elhadj Fall was named a Freshman All-American and Isaac Walker was named all-conference after leading the FBS in forced fumbles (5) and fumbles recovered (4). Additionally, Justin Rhodes earned all-conference honors after tying for the team lead with 13.0 tackles for loss.
The defensive line combined for 34.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 2024 as the Eagles finished 10th in the FBS in fourth down conversion percentage defense.
In his first year, Rowan inherited an experienced group on the edge, but had to rely on young players inside. The 2022 group was led by senior end Justin Ellis, who earned all-conference honors after posting 10.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Rowan spent the 2021 season as the defensive line coach at the University of Washington, working with one of the stingiest defenses in the country. The Huskies allowed just 22.7 points per game and averaged over five tackles per loss per game. The pressure his line generated helped lead to the success of the secondary, which led the FBS in the fewest passing yards allowed per game and was third in pass efficiency defense.
He went to the UW as a defensive analyst in March of 2019 and was named the Huskies’ defensive line coach in February of 2021 after two seasons as an analyst.
Rowan was listed on 247Sports’ “30 Under 30” listing of “rising stars” in college football in 2019.
A native of Marietta, Georgia, Rowen went to Washington after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Florida Atlantic in 2017 and 2018.
After working as a history teacher and assistant football coach at Northwest High School in Clarksville, Tennessee, he began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Southern Miss in 2015 and 2016, where his attention was focused on the defensive line.
Rowan was named after his grandfather Elwyn P. “Rip” Rowan, who, according to his biography in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, earned the nickname due to his ability to rip through defensive lines as a running back at Memphis’ Central High School in the early 1940s.
The original “Rip” played college football at both LSU and Army, served eight years as a second lieutenant, then earned acclaim as the color commentator for Ole Miss football. Bob Rowan — the original Rip’s son and the second Rip’s father — played at the University of Texas as well.
A four-year letterman defensive lineman and linebacker at Austin Peay, Rowan made the Dean’s List numerous times and received his bachelor’s degree in history and education in 2014. He earned a Master’s degree from Southern Miss in 2016.
THE ROWAN FILE
Personal
Hometown: Marietta, Ga.
Born: July 2, 1991 in Marietta, Ga.
College: Austin Peay (2014); Southern Miss (2016)
Playing Experience
Austin Peay (2010-13)
Coaching Experience
2022-: Georgia Southern (defensive line)
2021: Washington (defensive line)
2019-20: Washington (defensive analyst)
2017-18: Florida Atlantic (G.A.)
2015-16: Southern Miss (G.A.)
College Bowl Experience
Coach
2024: New Orleans (GS vs. Sam Houston)
2023: Myrtle Beach (GS vs. Ohio)
2022: Camellia (GS vs. Buffalo)
2019: Las Vegas (Washington vs. Boise State)
2017: Boca Raton (FAU vs. Akron)
2015: Heart of Dallas (So. Miss vs. Washington)
Prominent Pupils
Azeez Al-Shaair (OLB) - San Francisco 49ers
Levi Onwuzurike (DE) - Detroit Lions
Rashad Smith (LB) - Atlanta Falcons
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (OLB) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
